Overview

The overarching mission of the Honda Lab is to understand the biology of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease. NTM pulmonary disease is a public health threat of increasing importance globally. NTM are found in soil and water and not everyone who is exposed develops infection; thus, it is likely a variety of factors drive disease emergence. Our team is actively studying the 1) environmental- 2) host– 3) microbial factors that contribute to NTM pulmonary disease emergence in hot spots like Hawai’i and other areas nationally to better understand disease emergence in the United States that can be applied to a global scale. How climate changes and natural disasters may affect environmental NTM and their capacity to cause lung infections are also prime directives of the Lab. Additionally, environmental, and clinical NTM isolates from Hawai'i and elsewhere are used to explore the intra- and inter- NTM species differences that contribute to pathogenicity and host evasion. The Honda Lab is also heavily invested in the mentoring and training of the next generation of NTM scientists. Anyone who shares these goals should reach out to us!

The Honda Lab is supported by grants from the American Thoracic Society, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Shoot for the Cure, Natalie V. Zucker Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, NIH NHLBI PRIDE AGOLD Program, University of Colorado, GI and Liver Innate Immune Program (GALIIP), University of Texas Health Science Center Internal Grants Program, Dean’s Innovation and Collaborative Excellence Grants Program, and the STARS program. The Honda Lab is also supported by the generosity of the Padosi Foundation.